La Cieca
James Jorden (who wrote under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") was the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he wrote for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni. He also contributed a regular column on opera for the New York Observer. James died in October 2023.
Lise Lindstrom sings Turandot tonight.
They should have overlooked the cell phone, but arrested her for this video.
UPDATE: Looks like Guleghina’s going on (no big surprise, that). Chat is on for 7:30 as mentioned before. If Maria Guleghina is going to cancel tonight’s Turandot (following up on “bronchitis” privately announced at the dress where she marked the role) the announcement from the Met should come shortly after 5:00 pm (five minutes from…
The legendary costume designer for film was born October 28, 1897 in Searchlight, Nevada. Miss Head dressed practically everyone in Hollywood, including Helen Traubel, seen after the jump in an outtake from the 1961 comedy The Ladies’ Man.
La Cieca invites the newly reunited cher public to participate in an archeological dig scavenger hunt puzzle quiz promoting the new “Sacrificium” CD from Cecilia Bartoli. Ready to play? Well, first you have to answer this question: Farinelli’s remains were exhumed in 2006 from this cemetery in Bologna? Most of you surely know the answer,…
All things come home at eventide, Like birds that weary of their roaming. And I would hasten to thy side, Homing!
Even though La Cieca is sure you will agree with her that “Meglio stasera, che domani o mai. Domani chi lo sa, quel che sarà,” the fact is the server people are still working on parterre.com with a “go” time set for sometime early tomorrow. Be assured that your doyenne will inform you here at…
“Mr. Pell said that perhaps in a year or so, when a permanent general director has been found, the whole business with Mr. Steel’s brief tenure here may seem like the episode of ‘Dallas’ when Bobby Ewing stepped out of the shower and ‘the entire previous season was revealed to have been a dream’.” [NYT]
Now, this, my dears, is how you do PR! Don Juan: Everyone’s Favorite Bad BoyTuesday, October 27, 7:00-8:30pmThe Museum of Sex233 5th AvenueNew York, NY 10016 New York City Opera’s own Don Juan (bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch) in its new production of Don Giovanni, director Christopher Alden, and sexlogist Esther Perel (Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic…
Bayreuth scion Katharina Wagner treats her choristers well. When they complained about getting soaked with stage blood, she bought them all latex panties at sex shop Beate Uhse. [n-tv]
Which diva, whose performance of the first act is admittedly note-perfect, is making management lose sleep because she’s hasn’t yet attempted the second or third? (Maybe they’re worried she won’t cancel.)
P.S. The old site will be back tomorrow, promise!
From the Orders Report for La Cieca’s Amazon store for October 23, 2009: And a reminder, cher public, even though La Cieca is coming to you from an alien server until tomorrow, the Little Shop of Arias is still in business.
“Gloria Davy, Claudia Muzio, Renata Scotto and Lynne Strow Piccolo.”
Tonight’s chat during the season premiere of La Damnation de Faust from the Met begins at 8:15 pm. Sirius/XM RealNetworks from metopera.org
“…at the height of her crippling attacks of stage fright, her vocal coach had to physically push her on to the stage of the Met’s new production of The Marriage of Figaro, in which she was singing with Bryn Terfel and Cecilia Bartoli.” [Times Online]
If you’re wondering why the relatively inexperienced George Steel was tapped for the demanding job of hauling the New York City Opera out of the basement — instead of front-runner Francesca Zambello, well, maybe this is why: Zambello, currently in London creating a joint Royal Opera and Royal Ballet production of Tchaikovsky’s comic rarity “The…
I’m sure you’ve all read by now about the “famous Argentine opera diva” (who, by the way, nobody has ever heard of, so she’s not famous; and she doesn’t sing opera, so she’s not an opera diva; and at the rate she’s going, she’s probably going to turn out to be from Bolivia)… but, anyway,…
Maestro Wenarto shows us how Tosca should be done… as directed by that exciting Regie wunderkind Luc Bondage.
The film of that awful play Master Class will begin lensing next week in Detroit. Faye Dunaway directs and stars as Maria Callas. [Detroit Free Press] UPDATE: Edited to include this much funnier photo suggesting La Dunaway has decided to play the Audra McDonald part.
Jonas Kaufmann in his role debut(!) as Lohengrin. This is a great, great artist.
Takeaway from this morning’s press conference unveiling the He Who Must Not Be Named Theatre at Lincoln Center: the Kellogg-era sound enhancement system has been “eliminated.” [via NYT]
Tyne Daly will star as Maria Callas in that awful play Master Class, which La Cieca has to say strikes her as somewhat counterintutive. And while we’re on the subject, why hasn’t somebody written a play about Eileen Farrell? [theatermania.com]
Selections from the dress rehearsal, Berlin, October 21, 2009. Simon Boccanegra – Plácido Domingo Maria Boccanegra (Amelia) – Anja Harteros Jacopo Fiesco – Kwangchul Youn Gabriele Adorno – Fabio Sartori [“Fabelhafte Schneider”]Conductor – Daniel Barenboim
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
